Transferable patient care equipment support

ABSTRACT

A patient care equipment support includes power and data connectors configured to be coupled to power and data connectors of patient care equipment when the patient care equipment is coupled to the equipment support to provide a power coupling and a data coupling between the patient care equipment and the equipment support. The equipment support is transferable between a first device, such as a hospital bed, and a second device, such as an overhead support arm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.11/340,982, filed on Jan. 27, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,884,735, whichclaimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No.60/652,304, filed on Feb. 11, 2005, and each of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a patient care equipment support, andmore particularly relates to a patient care equipment support that istransferable between a first device, such as a hospital bed, and asecond device, such as a support arm or a column.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hospitalized patients often require patient care equipment to be inclose proximity during hospital care. Such patient care equipment istypically supported on a patient care equipment support or rack.Examples of patient care equipment include an infusion pump, aventilator, a cardiac monitor, a pulse oximeter, a non-invasive bloodpressure measuring device, a digital thermometer, a liquid oxygenmodule, a defibrillator, a respiratory rate measuring device, medicalgas delivery equipment (such as an oxygen tank), intra-venous bags, andthe like, many of which directly connect to the patient via lines ortubes.

Some supports carrying the patient care equipment are transferablebetween a patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, astretcher, an ambulatory care chair, and the like, and another supportstructure, such as a ceiling or wall-mounted service column, a ceilingor wall-mounted equipment support arm, a floor-supported stand, awheeled cart, a headwall, a wall of a hospital room, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises one or more of the following features orone or more of the elements in the appended claims or combinationsthereof.

A patient care equipment support may include power and data connectorsconfigured to be coupled to respective power and data connectors ofpatient care equipment when the patient care equipment is coupled to theequipment support to provide a power coupling and a data couplingbetween the patient care equipment and the equipment support.

The data coupling may be configured to transmit a control signal to thepatient care equipment. The equipment support may include an on-boardbattery for supplying power to the patient care equipment.

The patient care equipment may include any one or more of the following:an infusion pump, a ventilator, a cardiac monitor, a pulse oximeter, anon-invasive blood pressure measuring device, a digital thermometer, aliquid oxygen module, an oxygen tank, a defibrillator, a respiratoryrate measuring device, medical gas delivery equipment (such as an oxygentank), intra-venous bags, and the like. The equipment support mayfurther comprise any one or more of the following: a microcontroller, auser interface device, a display, and the like.

The equipment support may include a main structure and a pair ofextendible support legs with floor-engaging wheels so that the equipmentsupport may be decoupled from a first device, such as a hospital bed,and supported on an underlying floor. The support legs may retractrelative to the main structure when the equipment support is lifted offthe floor and coupled to the first device. Each of the support legs mayinclude a first member that moves vertically relative to the mainstructure and a pair of second members pivotably coupled to a lowerregion of the first member. The wheels may be coupled to respectivesecond members and the second members may pivot downwardly fromrespective storage positions in which the wheels are spaced from thefloor to respective use positions in which the wheels contact the floor.

The equipment support may be transferable between a first device havingfirst power and data connectors and a second device having second powerand data connectors. The equipment support may have third power and dataconnectors and fourth power and data connectors. The equipment supportmay be configured to be detachably coupled to the first device so thatthe third power and data connectors couple to the respective first powerand data connectors to supply power to the equipment support and toestablish a communication link between the first device and theequipment support.

The equipment support may be configured to be detachably coupled to thesecond device so that the fourth power and data connectors couple to therespective second power and data connectors to supply power to theequipment support and to establish a communication link between thesecond device and the equipment support. The communication links betweenthe first and second devices and the equipment support may be wired orwireless.

The third and the fourth power and data connectors may be arranged sothat the first and second power and data connectors can be coupledsubstantially simultaneously to the respective third and fourth powerand data connectors before disconnection of either one of the first andsecond power and data connectors from the respective third and fourthpower and data connectors to permit the equipment support to betransferred between the first and second devices without a loss of powerto the equipment support or without a loss of communication link withthe equipment support.

The first and/or the second device may be a patient support apparatus,such as a hospital bed, a stretcher, a chair, a surgery table, anexamination table, a wheel chair, and the like. The first and/or thesecond device may be a support structure, such as a support arm, acolumn, a service chase, a headwall, a cart, a stand, or any other pieceof architectural equipment.

The equipment support may include at least one equipment-receivingcavity and the power and data connectors of the patient care equipmentmay couple automatically to the respective power and data connectors ofthe equipment support when the patient care equipment is inserted atleast partially into the at least one equipment-receiving cavity. The atleast one equipment-receiving cavity may comprise a plurality ofequipment-receiving cavities. Each equipment-receiving cavity may beconfigured to receive the associated patient care equipment.

The power and data connectors of the equipment support and the patientcare equipment may be drawer connectors to facilitate automatic blindmating when the patient care equipment is inserted into the associatedequipment-receiving cavity of the equipment support. The power and dataconnectors of the equipment support may be receptacle connectors, andthe power and data connectors of the patient care equipment may be plugconnectors.

The patient support apparatus may comprise a base frame and an upperframe supported above the base frame. A support structure may extendoutwardly from the base frame so that at least a portion of the supportstructure extends outside a footprint of the upper frame. The portion ofthe support structure extending outside the footprint of the upper framemay be configured to carry the equipment support such that the equipmentsupport is spaced from an underlying floor. The equipment support mayhave an upper portion situated above the upper frame. The equipmentsupport may be detachably coupled to the support structure.

An apparatus may comprise a hospital bed having movable portions,patient monitoring equipment coupled to the hospital bed to monitor atleast one patient physiological condition, and a user interface devicecoupled to the hospital bed. The user interface device may include adisplay for displaying patient data and controls for controlling bedfunctions. The patient data may include one or more of the following:blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygensaturation level, patient weight, and the like.

The user interface device may comprise a touchscreen display and/orbuttons on a housing around a display screen. The touchscreen displaymay be operable to display patient data and a plurality of icons thatare touchable to move the movable portions of the hospital bed. In someembodiments, the touchscreen display may be operable to the display thepatient data and the plurality of icons at the same time. In otherembodiments, the touchscreen display may be operable to display thepatient data and the plurality of icons at different times. When buttonsare provided on the housing around the display screen, the buttons maycontrol dedicated functions of the hospital bed. In some embodiments,the functions associated with the buttons may change in connection withchanges to the information shown on the display screen. In suchembodiments, indicia regarding active functions currently associatedwith the buttons may be shown on the display screen near the buttons.

The hospital bed may include a detachable patient care equipmentsupport. The touchscreen display may be coupled to the detachableequipment support. The equipment support may include a microcontrollercoupled to the touchscreen display. The touchscreen display may beoperable to display a plurality of icons that are touchable to provideinput to the microcontroller.

The display may be configured to display the operational status of thehospital bed including information concerning one or more of thefollowing: bed function lock-outs, bed articulation, bed elevation,siderail positions, and therapy surface data. The display may beconfigured to display the operational status of the patient careequipment including information concerning one or more of the following:an alarm status and equipment settings.

A power connector may include a wired coupler to supply electrical powerto the patient care equipment. A data connector may include a wired orwireless coupler to establish a communication link between the patientcare equipment and the equipment support. A wired coupler may includeelectrical contacts. A wireless coupler may include one or more of thefollowing: a photoemitter, a photodetector, a photodiode, a radiofrequency (RF) transmitter, an RF receiver, an RF transceiver, aninfrared (IR) transmitter, an IR receiver, and an IR transceiver.

Data from the patient care equipment may be wirelessly communicated tothe equipment support from, and/or wirelessly communicated from theequipment support to, a computer network of a healthcare system. Thewireless communication may be in accordance with any desired protocol,including the following protocols: IrDA, spread spectrum (including theBluetooth protocol), RS232, TCP/IP, USB, and 802.11_(x). The wirelesscommunication may use frequency modulation or frequency modulatedinfrared (FMIR).

Additional features, which alone or in combination with any otherfeature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims,may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode ofcarrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanyingfigures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a patient care equipment supporttransferable between a hospital bed and an overhead support arm;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of couplers between the equipment supportand the support arm;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of couplers between the equipment supportand a patient care module;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the equipment support coupled to ahospital bed showing the patient care modules received in the respectiveequipment-receiving cavities in the equipment support;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 of the equipment supportcoupled to the hospital bed showing the patient care modules withdrawnfrom the respective cavities in the equipment support;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the patient careequipment support having a main structure and a pair of extendiblesupport legs extending downwardly from the main structure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective showing a combined power and data connector ofthe equipment support and a complementary power and data connector of apatient care equipment module;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the equipment support showing thepatient care modules received in the associated equipment-receivingcavities in the equipment support;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the equipment supportshowing a pair of coupling pins, a power connector and a data connectorextending downwardly from a downwardly-facing wall of the equipmentsupport;

FIG. 10 a perspective view of a power connector of the equipmentsupport;

FIG. 11 a perspective view of a data connector of the equipment supportand a complementary data connector of a hospital bed or a support arm;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the equipment support showing a pair ofcoupling pins, a power connector and a data connector extendingdownwardly from a downwardly-facing wall of a cavity formed in a backwall of the equipment support;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the equipment support spaced froma head end of a hospital bed;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the equipment support moved to aposition having the main structure above a support ledge of the hospitalbed and the legs of the equipment support on either side of the supportledge;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 14, showing the mainstructure of the equipment support moved downwardly by a sufficientamount so that a coupler of the equipment support mates with a couplercarried by the support ledge;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 15, showing verticallyextending first members of the support legs retracted upwardly relativeto the main structure of the equipment support and pairs of pivotablesecond members to which wheels are coupled pivoted upwardly torespective intermediate positions;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 16, showing the firstmembers further retracted upwardly relative to the main structure of theequipment support and showing the second members pivoted to storagepositions alongside the first members;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 17, showing a caregivergrasping push handles of the hospital bed situated on either side of theequipment support which is being carried by the hospital bed;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the equipment support transferredfrom the hospital bed onto a support arm which suspends the equipmentsupport above a floor of the hospital room; and

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a support member that is coupledto a lower region of the support arm aligned for insertion into thecavity of the main structure of the equipment support;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a coupling pin extendingdownwardly from a bottom wall of the equipment support overlying anupwardly-opening socket extending upwardly from a top wall of a supportstructure of the bed as the equipment support is mated with the bed;

FIG. 22 is a screen shot of a display screen showing patient data, bedfunction control icons, microcontroller input icons, bed operationalstatus data, and patient care equipment status data;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a hospital bed having a swivelableforwardly-extending support structure for supporting the equipmentsupport; and

FIG. 24 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 23, showing the equipmentsupport swiveled to one side of the bed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a patient care equipment support 20 has aplurality of equipment-receiving cavities 22 configured for receivingpatient care equipment or modules 24. Examples of modules 24 that may bereceived in the equipment-receiving cavities 22 include: an infusionpump, a ventilator, a cardiac monitor, a pulse oximeter, a non-invasiveblood pressure measuring device, a digital thermometer, a liquid oxygenmodule, a defibrillator, a respiratory rate measuring device, medicalgas delivery equipment (such as an oxygen tank), intra-venous bags, andthe like. Many patient care modules 24 connect via lines or tubes to apatient (not shown) supported on a hospital bed 40. As shown in FIG. 4,patient data received by one or more of the patient care modules 24 isdisplayed on a display screen 26 of a user interface device attached tothe equipment support 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the displayscreen 26 is a flat panel touchscreen display. Some examples of patientdata are blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate,blood oxygen saturation level, patient weight, and the like. Theequipment support 20 is configured to carry an oxygen tank 28 as shownin FIG. 4. Furthermore, equipment support 20 has a microcontroller 30,shown in phantom in FIG. 4, that is coupled to modules 24 and to display26.

The equipment support 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 has threecavities 22, one each for a set of infusion pumps 32, a ventilator 34,and a patient monitor 36. One cavity 22 is shaped and sized forreceiving four infusion pumps 32 arranged side by side therein. Twocavities 22 are shaped and sized for receiving the ventilator 34 and thepatient monitor 36, respectively. The actual number ofequipment-receiving cavities 22 depends on design considerations.Although the illustrated equipment support 20 has three cavities 22, theequipment support 20 may very well have more or less than three cavities22. Illustratively, the equipment support 20 is in the form of arectangular, box-shaped structure with the cavities 22 provided therein.However, the equipment support 20 may have any desired shape and, insome cases, the equipment support 20 may be in the form of a spine or acolumn (not shown) with pre-assigned spaces for the associated patientcare modules 24.

The equipment support 20 is adapted to be transferable between a firstdevice, such as the hospital bed 40, and a second device, such as anoverhead support arm 42. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bed 40 includesa base frame 50, an upper frame 52 supported above the base frame 50,and an articulating deck 54 supported above the upper frame 52. Amattress 56 having a patient support surface 58 rests on the deck 54.The bed 40 includes a head end 60, a foot end 62, a first side 64, asecond side 66, and a longitudinal axis 68. A set of jacks 70, 72 areinterposed between the base frame 50 and the underside of the upperframe 52. A plurality of foot pedals 74 are coupled to the base frame 50to operate the jacks 70, 72 to raise and lower the upper frame 52.

The deck 54 has longitudinally-spaced head, seat, thigh and footsections. The seat section is fixed to the upper frame 52, and the head,thigh and foot sections are movable relative to each other and relativeto the seat section. The base frame 50 is supported on four wheels 76.The outer periphery of the upper frame 52 defines a footprint whenprojected downwardly onto a floor 78. Two side rails 80 are coupled tothe head section of the deck 54. Two side rails 82 are coupled to theupper frame 52 or to the foot section of the deck 54. A foot board 84 iscoupled to the foot end 62 of the upper frame 52.

As shown in FIG. 1, a telescopic column 90 is coupled to a distal end 92of the support arm 42 by a coupler 93. A proximal end 94 of the supportarm 42 is supported by a ceiling or a wall of a hospital room 96.Alternatively, the proximal end 94 of the support arm 42 is supported bya support structure that extends upwardly from the floor 78 of thehospital room 96. The support arm 42 is pivotable about a substantiallyvertical axis 98 extending through the proximal end 94. In theillustrative embodiment, the support arm 42 is telescopic so that itsdistal end 92 telescopes horizontally relative to its proximal end 94.Non-telescopic arms are contemplated by this disclosure as well.

The telescopic column 90 has a lower portion 100 that telescopesvertically relative to an upper portion 102 under the power of anelectric motor or other suitable driver housed in the upper portion 102.Illustratively, the motor is a linear actuator of the type commerciallyavailable from the Linak Company of Denmark. It is understood thatdrivers such as hydraulic cylinders, magnetic cylinders, pneumaticcylinders, and the like may be used in lieu of the motor to cause thevertical telescopic movement of the lower portion 100 of the column 90.The motor is actuated by a user control (not shown) positioned on thetelescopic column 90 or a wall of the hospital room 96. Alternatively,the motor may be operated by a wired or wireless remote control.

The vertical telescoping movement of the column 90 permits the equipmentsupport 20 to be lifted off the bed 40 and attached to the column 90.Additionally, such vertical telescoping movement of the column 90permits the equipment support 20 to be detached from the column 90 andreattached to the bed 40. The pivoting movement of the support arm 42about the vertical axis 98, the horizontal telescoping movement of thesupport arm 42, and the vertical telescoping movement of the column 90allow the equipment support 20 to be positioned at any desirablelocation within a range of movements.

The bed 40, the support arm 42, and the column 90 merely illustrate theenvironment for the operation of the equipment support 20. It will beunderstood that the first device may very well be any one of thefollowing: a stretcher, a surgery table, an ambulatory care chair, awheeled carriage, a patient support, and the like. Likewise, the seconddevice may very well be any one of the following: a cart, a stand, anarm, and the like.

In some embodiments, the equipment support 20 includes extendiblesupport legs with floor-engaging wheels (such as the extendible supportlegs 350 with floor-engaging wheels 352 shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and12-19) which allow the equipment support 20 to be decoupled from the bed40 or the column 90 and supported on the floor 78 for independentoperation thereof. The support legs are configured to retract when theequipment support 20 is lifted off the floor 78 and attached to the bed40 or the column 90 as shown in FIGS. 17-19.

As shown in FIG. 1, a support structure or ledge 110 extends outwardlyfrom the head end 60 the base frame 50. Illustratively, the ledge 110 isspaced from the floor 78. At least a portion 112 of the ledge 110extends outside the footprint of the upper frame 52. The equipmentsupport 20 is detachably coupled to the ledge 110 outside the footprintof the upper frame 52. The width of the equipment support 20 is lessthan the width of the base frame 50. The width of the ledge 110 is lessthan the width of the equipment support 20. In some embodiments, thewidth of the equipment support 20 is equal to the width of the baseframe 50. In some embodiments, the width of the ledge 110 is equal tothe width of the equipment support 20.

When the equipment support 20 is coupled to structure 110 of the baseframe 50, an upper portion 114 of the equipment support 20 is situatedabove the upper frame 52. Attachment of the equipment support 20 to thebase frame 50, instead of the upper frame 52, allows the equipmentsupport 20 to be taller than some prior art equipment supports whichenables it to have an increased number of equipment-receiving cavities22 for receiving multiple patient care modules 24.

The top 116 of the ledge 110 of the bed 40 has first power and dataconnectors 120 and a first mechanical connector 130. The bottom 104 ofthe lower portion 100 of the support column 90 has second power and dataconnectors 140 and a second mechanical connector 150. The equipmentsupport 20 has third power and data connectors 122 and a thirdmechanical connector 132 coupled to the underside 124 of the equipmentsupport 20. The equipment support 20 has fourth power and dataconnectors 142 and a fourth mechanical connector 152 coupled to thetopside 144 of the equipment support 20.

The equipment support 20 is configured to be detachably coupled to thebed 40. As the equipment support 20 approaches the bed 40, the thirdmechanical connector 132 engages the first mechanical connector 130before the third power and data connectors 122 engage the first powerand data connectors 120 to align the third power and data connectors 122with the first power and data connectors 120. As the engagement betweenthe third mechanical connector 132 and the first mechanical connector130 progresses, the third power and data connectors 122 couple to thefirst power and data connectors 120 to supply power to the equipmentsupport 20 and to establish a communication link between the equipmentsupport 20 and the bed 40. The engagement between the third mechanicalconnector 132 and the first mechanical connector 130 secures theequipment support 20 to the bed 40.

The equipment support 20 is configured to be detachably coupled to thecolumn 90. As the column 90 approaches the equipment support 20, thesecond mechanical connector 150 engages the fourth mechanical connector152 before the second power and data connectors 140 engage the fourthpower and data connectors 142 to align the second power and dataconnectors 140 with the fourth power and data connectors 142. As theengagement between the second mechanical connector 150 and the fourthmechanical connector 152 progresses, the second power and dataconnectors 140 couple to the fourth power and data connectors 142 tosupply power to the equipment support 20 and to establish acommunication link between the equipment support 20 and the column 90.The engagement between the second mechanical connector 150 and thefourth mechanical connector 152 secures the equipment support 20 to thecolumn 90.

The third and the fourth power and data connectors 122, 142 are arrangedon the equipment support 20 so that the first and second power and dataconnectors 120, 140 can be coupled substantially simultaneously to therespective third and fourth power and data connectors 122, 142 beforedisconnection of either one of the first and second power and dataconnectors 120, 140 from the respective third and fourth power and dataconnectors 122, 142 to permit the equipment support 20 to be transferredbetween the bed 40 and the column 90 without a loss of power to theequipment support 20 or without a loss of communication link with theequipment support 20.

Likewise, the third and fourth mechanical connectors 132, 152 arearranged on the equipment support 20 so that the first and secondmechanical connectors 130, 150 can be coupled substantiallysimultaneously to the respective third and fourth mechanical connectors132, 152 before disconnection of either one of the first and secondmechanical connectors 130, 150 from the respective third and fourthmechanical connectors 132, 152. This assures that the equipment support20 is firmly secured to the bed 40 before it is released from the column90, and firmly secured to the column 90 before it is released from thebed 40.

Each patient care module 24 has power and data connectors 160 which areconfigured to be coupled to associated power and data connectors 162 ofthe equipment support 20 to supply power to the patient care module 24and to establish a communication link between the patient care module 24and the equipment support 20 when the patient care module 24 is receivedin the associated equipment-receiving cavity 22 in the equipment support20. Thus, each of the infusion pump 32, the ventilator 34 and thepatient monitor 36 has power and data connectors 160 which areconfigured to be coupled to associated power and data connectors 162 ofthe equipment support 20. The power and data connectors 162 of theequipment support 20 are accessible for connection to the power and dataconnectors 160 of the patient care module 24 through respective openings(not shown) in an interior wall of the equipment support 20.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the second and fourth power anddata connectors 140, 142 and the second and fourth mechanical connectors150, 152. The first and third power and data connectors 120, 122 aresimilar to the second and fourth power and data connectors 140, 142, andthe first and third mechanical connectors 130, 132 are similar to thesecond and fourth mechanical connectors 150, 152. The second and fourthmechanical connectors 150, 152 serve to align the second and fourthpower and data connectors 140 and to secure the equipment support 20 tothe column 90. Likewise, the first and third mechanical connectors 130,132 serve to align the first and third power and data connectors 120,122 and to secure the equipment support 20 to the bed 40. FIG. 3 is aschematic representation of the power and data connectors 160, 162.

Locating pins (such as the pins 550, 572 shown in FIGS. 9 and 12) sizedfor cooperative mating engagement with associated sockets (such as thesockets 554, 578 shown in FIGS. 14 and 20) may be used for aligning theequipment support 20 with the bed 40 and the column 90. Latches (notshown) may be used for locking the equipment support 20 to the bed 40 orthe column 90, as the case may be. Illustrative locating pins, socketsand latches are disclosed in 1) U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. US2005/0000019,entitled “Patient Care Equipment Management System,” 2) PCT Pat. App.Pub. No. WO2005/037165, entitled “Patient Care Equipment Support Lock,”and 3) U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,122, all of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein.

In some embodiments, each one of first, second, third and fourth powerand data connectors 120, 140, 122, 142 includes a first wired powercoupler 170 to supply electrical power to the equipment support 20 and asecond wireless data coupler 172 to establish a communication linkbetween the equipment support 20 and the bed 40 or the support column90, as the case may be. Each one of power and data connectors 160, 162includes a first wired power coupler 180 to supply electrical power tothe patient care module 24 and a second wireless data coupler 182 toestablish a communication link between the patient care module 24 andthe equipment support 20.

The wired couplers 170, 180 comprise electrical contacts. The wirelesscouplers 172, 182 comprise one or more of the following: a photoemitter,a photodetector, a photodiode, a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, an RFreceiver, an RF transceiver, an infrared (IR) transmitter, an IRreceiver, and an IR transceiver. Alternatively, wired data couplers maybe used in lieu of the wireless data couplers 172, 182. Data from thepatient care module 24 is wirelessly communicated to a computer network190 of a healthcare system so that other computer devices connected tothe computer network 190 have access to the data from the patient caremodule 24 when the patient care module 24 is received in the associatedequipment-receiving cavity 22 in the equipment support 20 and theequipment support 20 is coupled to the bed 40 or the column 90.

The wireless communication between the patient care module 24 and thecomputer network 190 may be in accordance with any desired protocol,including the following protocols: IrDA, spread spectrum (including theBluetooth protocol), RS232, TCP/IP, USB, and 802.11_(x). The wirelesscommunication may use frequency modulation or by frequency modulatedinfrared (FMIR). In some embodiments, data includes control signals forthe operation of the patient care modules 24, the display 26 or themicrocontroller 30. The power and data connectors 120, 122, 140, 142,160, 162 may be of the type illustrated in PCT Pat. App. Pub. No.WO2005/022692, entitled “Plug and Receptacle Having Wired and WirelessCoupling.”

In some embodiments, the power and data connectors 160, 162 of thepatient care module 24 and the equipment support 20 are drawerconnectors to facilitate blind mating when the patient care module 24 isinserted into the associated equipment-receiving cavity 22 of theequipment support 20. Such drawer connectors may be of the typeillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,456. In some embodiments, the powerand data connector 162 of the equipment support 20 is a receptacleconnector and the power and data connector 160 of the patient caremodule 24 is a plug connector.

As shown in FIG. 22, the display 26 is operable in several modes, eitherat the same time or at different times, when the equipment support 20 iscoupled to the bed 40. In a first mode, the display 26 is operable todisplay patient data. Illustratively, the patient data includes bloodpressure, temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygensaturation level, patient weight, and the like. This list is intended tobe exemplary, not exhaustive, and it is contemplated by this disclosurethat all types of patient data may be displayed on the display 26. In asecond mode, the display 26 is operable to display a first plurality oficons that are touchable to move the movable portions of the bed 40,such as the head, thigh and foot sections of the deck 54 and the siderails 80, 82. Thus, display 26 is a touchscreen display in someembodiments. In a third mode, the display 26 is operable to display asecond plurality of icons that are touchable to provide input to themicrocontroller 30. In a fourth mode, the display 26 is configured todisplay the operational status of the bed 40 including one or more ofthe following: bed function lock-outs, bed articulation, bed elevation,siderail positions, and therapy surface data. In a fifth mode, thedisplay 26 is configured to display the operational status of thepatient care modules 24 including information concerning one or more ofthe following: alarm status and the equipment settings.

The equipment support 20 has an on-board battery 200 for supplying powerto the patient care modules 24, the display 26 and the microcontroller30. Alternatively, the bed 40 and the support arm 42 each has a powersource, such as, for example, a battery 202 or a converter to convert aline voltage to a low DC voltage, for supplying power to the patientcare modules 24, the display 26 and the microcontroller 30 when theequipment support 20 is coupled to the bed 40 or the support arm 42. Theequipment support 20 has conductors for electrically coupling thepatient care modules 24, the display 26 and the microcontroller 30 tothe power and data connectors 122, 142. Conductors may also extendbetween the display 26, the microcontroller 30 and the power and dataconnectors 162.

FIGS. 6-20 show another embodiment of a patient care equipment support320. Portions of the equipment support 320 are substantially the same orsimilar as the like portions of the equipment support 20. The equipmentsupport 320 has a plurality of equipment-receiving cavities 322configured for receiving patient care modules 324. Many patient caremodules 324 connect via lines or tubes to a patient (not shown)supported on a hospital bed 440. Patient data received by the patientcare modules 324 is displayed on a display screen 326 of a userinterface device attached to the equipment support 320. In theillustrated embodiment, the display screen 326 is a flat paneltouchscreen display. The equipment support 320 includes an on-boardmicrocontroller 692 (FIG. 8) coupled to the display 326.

As shown, for example, in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 12, the equipment support320 is in the form of a rectangular, box-shaped main structure having afront wall 300, a back wall 302, a pair of side walls 304, 306, a topwall 308 and a bottom wall 310. In the illustrated embodiment, theequipment support 320 has eight cavities 322 that are accessible fromthe front wall 300 of the equipment support 320. As shown in FIGS. 6 and8, seven of the eight cavities 322 are allocated to various module 324and one cavity 322 is unallocated. Each cavity 322 is shaped and sizedto receive one or more specific modules 324. In the illustratedembodiment, seven of the eight cavities 322 are allocated as follows: 1)a plurality of mini modules 328 (such as pulse oximeter, non-invasiveblood pressure measuring module, and the like), 2) a first dual channelIV pump module 330, 3) a second dual channel IV pump module 332, 4) aportable suction module 334, 5) a ventilator module 336, 6) a liquidoxygen module 338, and 7) a battery module 340. The unallocated cavity322 may be configured to receive any suitable module 324, such as, forexample, a cardiac monitor, an apnea monitor, a respiratory ratemeasuring module, and the like.

As shown, for example, in FIGS. 6 and 8, the top wall 308 of theequipment support 320 comprises a central recess 312 disposed betweentwo raised shelf portions 314. A digital thermometer 342 is coupled toone of the two shelf portions 314 near the left side wall 304. An IVpole 344 is coupled to the other of the two shelf portions 314 near theright side wall 306. The IV pole 344 has a cantilevered arm 346 forsupporting one or more IV bags 348.

Although the illustrated equipment support 320 has eight cavities 322,the equipment support 320 may very well have more or less than eightcavities 322. Likewise, although a specific allocation of the eightcavities 322 is made in the illustrated embodiment, a differentallocation of the eight cavities 322 may very well be made. Although theillustrated equipment support 320 has a rectangular, box-shaped mainstructure, it may very well have a main structure of any desired shape.In some cases, the main structure of the equipment support 320 may be inthe form of a spine or a column (not shown) with pre-assigned spaces forspecific patient care modules 24.

As shown in FIG. 19, the equipment support 320 is adapted to betransferable between a first device, such as the hospital bed 440, and asecond device, such as an overhead support arm 442. In the illustratedexample, the bed 440 and the support arm 442 merely illustrate theenvironment for the operation of the equipment support 320. It will beunderstood that the first device may very well be any one of thefollowing: a stretcher, a surgery table, an ambulatory care chair, awheeled carriage, a patient support, and the like. Likewise, the seconddevice may very well be any one of the following: a cart, a stand, anarm, and the like.

As shown, for example, in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 12, the equipment support320 includes a pair of downwardly-extending support legs 350 withfloor-engaging wheels 352 which allow the equipment support 320 to bedecoupled from the bed 440 or the support arm 442 and lowered onto thefloor 478 for independent operation thereof. The bottom wall 310 of theequipment support 320 comprises a central downwardly-projecting portion316 disposed between two vertically-extending recesses 318 as shown inFIGS. 9 and 12. The support legs 350 extend downwardly from respectivedownwardly-facing surfaces of the recesses 318. The support legs 350 areconfigured to retract into the associated recesses 318 when theequipment support 320 is lifted off the floor 478 and coupled to the bed440 as shown in FIGS. 17, 18 or to the support arm 442 as shown in FIG.19.

Each support leg 350 includes a pair of wheel-supporting members 354. Asshown, for example, in FIG. 9, the wheels 352 are coupled to distal ends356 of the members 354. Proximal ends 358 of the members 354 are coupledto the associated support leg 350 to pivot between an extended positionshown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 12-15 where the members 354 extend generallyperpendicularly to a longitudinal axis 360 of the equipment support 320and a retracted position shown in FIGS. 17-19 where the members 354extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 360 of the equipmentsupport 320. As shown in FIGS. 17-19, when retracted, thewheel-supporting members 354 are withdrawn within the respectiveleg-receiving recesses 318 of the equipment support 320 so that thewheel-supporting members 354 and the associated wheels 352 are within afootprint of the equipment support 320.

The support legs 350 are telescopic. As shown, for example, in FIG. 12,each support leg 350 includes an upper portion 364 and a lower portion366. Two vertically-extending leg-receiving spaces 368 are formed on theopposite sides 304, 306 of the equipment support 320 above the recesses318. The upper portions 364 of the support legs 350 retract into theassociated leg-receiving spaces 368 shown in FIG. 12 when the supportlegs 350 are moved to their respective storage positions as shown, forexample, in FIGS. 17-19. The upper portions 364 of the support legs 350extend out of the associated leg-receiving spaces 368 when the supportlegs 350 are moved to their respective use positions as shown, forexample, in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 12-15. The lower portions 366 of thesupport legs 350 are less thick than the respective upper portions 364(as shown in FIG. 12) to create two oppositewheel-supporting-member-receiving recesses 370 (shown in FIG. 17) intowhich the pivotable wheel-supporting members 354 are received with theirassociated wheels 352 as shown in FIG. 17 when the support legs 350 aremoved to their respective storage positions.

As the upper portions 364 of the support legs 350 telescope into therespective leg-receiving spaces 368 in the equipment support 320 in themanner shown in FIGS. 15-17, the wheel-supporting members 354 and theassociated wheels 352 simultaneously pivot upwardly into their storagepositions in the respective wheel-supporting member-receiving recesses370 formed in the support legs 350. Likewise, as the upper portions 364of the support legs 350 telescope out the associated leg-receivingspaces 368, the wheel-supporting members 354 and the associated wheels352 simultaneously pivot downwardly to their respective use positions asshown, for example, in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 12-15.

In the illustrated embodiment, one or more electric motors (not shown)housed in equipment support 320 power the telescopic movement of thesupport legs 350 and the pivoting movement of the wheel-supportingmembers 354. Each electric motor may be a linear actuator of the typecommercially available from the Linak Company of Denmark. It isunderstood that drivers such as hydraulic cylinders, magnetic cylinders,pneumatic cylinders, and the like may be used in lieu of the electricmotors to cause the telescopic movement of the support legs 350 and thepivoting movement of the wheel-supporting members 354. The motors areactuated by associated controls (not shown) positioned on the mainstructure of the equipment support 320 or by a wired or wireless remotecontrol.

Such vertical telescoping movement of the support legs 350 and theassociated pivoting movement of the wheel-supporting members 354 permitthe equipment support 320 to be decoupled from the bed 440 or thesupport arm 442 and supported on the floor 478 as shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9and 12-15. Also, such vertical telescoping movement of the support legs350 and the associated pivoting movement of the wheel-supporting members354 permit the equipment support 320 to be lifted off the floor 478 andreattached to the bed 440 as shown in FIGS. 16-18, or reattached to thearm 442 as shown in FIG. 19.

As shown in FIGS. 13-19, the bed 440 includes a base frame 450, an upperframe 452 supported above the base frame 450, and an articulating deck454 supported above the upper frame 452. A mattress 456 having a patientsupport surface 458 rests on the deck 454. The bed 440 includes a headend 460, a foot end 462, a first side 464, a second side 466, and alongitudinal axis 468. A set of pivotable lift arms 470, 472 areinterposed between the base frame 450 and the underside of the upperframe 542. A plurality of foot pedals (not shown) are coupled to thebase frame 450 to operate the pivotable lift arms 470, 472 to raise andlower the upper frame 452.

The deck 454 has longitudinally-spaced head, seat, thigh and footsections. The seat section is fixed to the upper frame 452, and thehead, thigh and foot sections are movable relative to each other andrelative to the seat section. The base frame 450 is supported on fourwheels 476. The outer periphery of the upper frame 452 defines afootprint when projected downwardly onto a floor 478. Two side rails 480are coupled to the head section of the deck 454. Two side rails 482 arecoupled to the upper frame 452 or to the foot section of the deck 754.

As shown in FIGS. 13-19, a first relatively wide ledge 484 extendsoutwardly in a cantilevered manner from the head end 460 of the baseframe 450. The ledge 484 is spaced from the floor 478. In theillustrated example, the width of the ledge 484 is less than the widthof the base frame 450. A pair of laterally-spaced frame members 486shown, for example, in FIG. 13 extend outwardly from the head end 460 ofthe ledge 484. Each frame member 486 has a first portion 488 thatextends horizontally outwardly from the ledge 484 and a second portion490 that extends vertically upwardly from a distal end of the associatedfirst portion 488. A cross plate 492 extends between the upper regions494 of the second portions 490 of the frame members 486 as shown, forexample, in FIG. 13.

A push bar 496 extends vertically upwardly from a free end of eachsecond portion 490 as shown, for example, in FIG. 13. Each push bar 496has an outwardly-turned handle post 498 that may be grasped by acaregiver for moving the bed 440. In the illustrated embodiment, thehandle posts 498 are enclosed in respective sleeves made from softmaterial, such as rubber. The push bars 496 and the associated handles498 are located forward of a footprint of the upper frame 452 of the bed440.

Still referring to FIG. 13, a second relatively narrow ledge 500 extendsoutwardly in a cantilevered manner from the head end 460 of the firstrelatively wide ledge 484. The ledge 500 is spaced from the floor 478.The ledge 500 is positioned intermediate of the push bars 496. At leasta forward portion 502 of the ledge 500 extends outside the footprint ofthe upper frame 452. The equipment support 320 is detachably coupled tothe forward portion 502 as shown in FIGS. 17, 18. In the illustratedexample, the width of the equipment support 320 is less than the innerspacing between the vertically-extending portions 490 of the framemembers 486 as shown in FIG. 13. In some embodiments, the width of theequipment support 320 is equal to the width of the base frame 450. Inthe illustrated example, the width of the ledge 500 is less than theinner spacing between the downwardly-extending support legs 350 of theequipment support 320. In some embodiments, the width of the ledge 500is equal to the width of the equipment support 320.

When the equipment support 320 is coupled to the base frame 450 of thebed 440, an upper portion 504 of the equipment support 320 is situatedabove the upper frame 452 as shown in FIGS. 17, 18. Attachment of theequipment support 320 to the base frame 450, instead of the upper frame452 of the bed 440, allows the equipment support 320 to be taller sothat it can have multiple equipment-receiving cavities 322 for receivingmultiple patient care modules 324.

As shown in FIG. 19, a telescopic column 520 is coupled to a distal end522 of the support arm 442 by a coupler 524. A proximal end 526 of thesupport arm 442 is supported by a support structure 528 that extendsupwardly from the floor 478 of a hospital room 530 in the illustratedembodiment. Alternatively, the proximal end 526 of the support arm 442may be supported by a ceiling or a wall of the hospital room 530. Thesupport arm 442 is pivotable about a vertical axis 532 extending throughthe proximal end 528. The illustrative support arm 442 is telescopic sothat its distal end 522 telescopes horizontally relative to its proximalend 526.

The column 520 has a lower portion 534 that telescopes verticallyrelative to an upper portion 536 under the power of an electric motorhoused in the upper portion 536. Illustratively, the motor is a linearactuator of the type commercially available from the Linak Company ofDenmark. It is understood that drivers such as hydraulic cylinders,magnetic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, and the like may be used inlieu of the motor to cause vertical telescopic movement of the lowerportion 534 of the column 520 relative to the upper portion 536. Themotor is actuated by a control (not shown) positioned on the lowerportion 534 of the column 520. Alternatively, the motor may be operatedby a wired or wireless remote control or a control positioned on a wallof the hospital room 530. The equipment support 320 is detachablycoupled to the lower portion 538 of the column 520 as shown in FIGS. 19,20.

The vertical telescopic movement of the column 520 permits the equipmentsupport 320 to be lifted off the bed 440 and lowered onto the floor 478of the hospital room 530 as shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 12-14 forstandalone operation thereof. Also, such telescopic movement of thecolumn 520 permits the equipment support 320 to be lifted off the floor478 and reattached to the bed 440 as shown in FIGS. 17, 18 or to thesupport arm 442 as shown in FIG. 19. The pivoting movement of thesupport arm 442 about the vertical axis 532, the horizontal telescopingmovement of the support arm 442, and the vertical telescoping movementof the column 520 allow the equipment support 320 to be positioned atany desirable location within a range of movements. As previouslyindicated, the bed 440, the support arm 442, and the column 520 merelyillustrate the environment for the operation of the equipment support320.

As shown, for example, in FIG. 9, a pair of laterally-spaced coupling orlocating pins 550 extend downwardly from the downwardly-facing wall 552of the equipment support 320. The downwardly-extending pins 550 areconfigured for reception in a complementary pair of upwardly-openingsockets 554 of the hospital bed 440 as shown, for example, in FIG. 13.The upwardly-opening sockets 554 are received in respectivesocket-receiving openings formed in a mounting block 558. The mountingblock 558 is secured to the upwardly-facing wall 560 of the forwardportion 502 of the ledge 500 of the hospital bed 440. The lateralspacing between the upwardly-opening sockets 554 is the same as thelateral spacing between the downwardly-extending pins 550.

As shown in FIG. 12, a mounting block-receiving cavity or pocket 570 isformed in the upper region of the back wall 302 of the equipment support320. A pair of laterally-spaced coupling or locating pins 572 extenddownwardly beyond a downwardly-facing wall 574 of the cavity 570. Thedownwardly-extending pins 572 are spaced outwardly from a back wall 576of the cavity 570. The downwardly-extending pins 572 are configured forreception in a complementary pair of upwardly-opening sockets 578 shownin FIG. 20. The upwardly-opening sockets 578 are received in respectivesocket-receiving openings formed in a mounting block 582 of the column520. The mounting block 582 has a first portion 584 that extendsoutwardly in a cantilevered fashion from a lower region 538 of the lowerportion 534 of the column 520. The mounting block 582 has a second lipportion 586 that extends upwardly from a distal end of the first portion584. The socket-receiving openings are formed in the upwardly-extendinglip portion 586 of the mounting block 582.

The lateral spacing between the upwardly-opening sockets 578 of thecolumn 520 is the same as the lateral spacing between thedownwardly-extending coupling pins 572 of the equipment support 320. Toattach the equipment support 320 to the column 520, theupwardly-extending lip portion 586 of the mounting block 582 is insertedinto the mounting block-receiving cavity 570 and the lower portion 534of the column 520 is raised so that the downwardly-extending pins 572 ofthe equipment support 320 are received in the upwardly-opening sockets578. The lip portion 586 of the mounting block 582 is sized and shapedto facilitate reception thereof in the cavity 570 even when thealignment between the two is slightly off as the lip portion 586 of thecolumn 520 is inserted into mounting block-receiving cavity 570. Thus,the width and the thickness of the second portion 586 of the mountingblock 582 is slightly less than the width and the thickness of thecavity 570, respectively. The second portion 586 of the mounting block582 tapers gently from, wide to narrow, in a forward direction away fromthe column 520.

Referring to FIG. 9, a power connector 590 (shown in FIG. 10) and a dataconnector 592 (shown in FIG. 11) are coupled to the downwardly-facingwall 552 of the equipment support 320 between the coupling pins 550. Acomplementary power connector 594 (shown in FIG. 10) and a complementarydata connector 596 (shown in FIG. 11) are coupled to the mounting block558 of the bed 440 between the upwardly-opening sockets 554. The powerand data connectors 590, 592 of the equipment support 320 are configuredto be coupled to the associated power and data connectors 594, 596 ofthe bed 440 when the equipment support 320 is coupled to the bed 440 asshown, for example, in FIGS. 15-18.

As shown in FIG. 12, a power connector 600 and a data connector 602 arecoupled to the downwardly-facing wall 574 of the equipment support 320between the downwardly-extending coupling pins 572. As shown in FIG. 20,a complementary power connector 604 and a complementary data connector606 are coupled to the mounting block 582 of the column 520 between theupwardly-opening sockets 578. The power and data connectors 600, 602 ofthe equipment support 320 are configured to be coupled to the associatedpower and data connectors 604, 606 of the column 520 when the equipmentsupport 320 is coupled to the column 520 as shown in FIG. 19.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two power connectors 590, 600, shownin FIGS. 9 and 12 respectively, coupled to the equipment support 320 areidentical. Likewise, the power connectors 594, 604 coupled to the bed440 and the column 520 are identical. Also, the two data connectors 592,602, shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 respectively, coupled to the equipmentsupport 320 are identical in the illustrated embodiment. Likewise, thedata connectors 596, 606 coupled to the bed 440 and the column 520 areidentical.

Illustratively, as shown in FIG. 21, the coupling pins 550, 572 each hasa frustoconical tapered end portion 610 for facilitating engagement witha complementary upwardly-facing frustoconical opening 612 in theassociated sockets 554, 578 even when the alignment between the two isslightly off as the equipment support 320 is lowered to engage the bed440 or the lower portion 534 of the column 520 is raised to engage theequipment support 320. The tapered end portions 610 of the coupling pins550, 572 vary in diameter from wide to narrow in a downward direction.It should be understood, however, that other approaches by which the bed440 or the column 520 engage and support the equipment support 320 arewithin the scope of this disclosure. For example, the bed 440 could havea pair of upwardly-extending posts (not shown), while the equipmentsupport 320 could have a pair of downwardly-opening sockets (not shown).The sockets 554, 578 are illustratively made from a different materialthan steel, such as brass or aluminum bronze, to allow the coupling pins550, 572 of the equipment support 320 to be received in the associatedsockets 554, 578 without galling the mating surfaces.

To attach the equipment support 320 to the bed 440, the equipmentsupport 320 lowered onto the bed 440. The downwardly-extending couplingpins 550 of the equipment support 320 engage the associatedupwardly-opening sockets 554 of the bed 440 before the power and dataconnectors 590, 592 of the equipment support 320 engage the respectivepower and data connectors 594, 596 of the bed 440 to align the power anddata connectors 590, 592 of the equipment support 320 with therespective power and data connectors 594, 596 of the bed 440. As theengagement between the coupling pins 550 and the associated sockets 554progresses, the power and data connectors 590, 592 couple to therespective power and data connectors 594, 596 to supply power to theequipment support 320 and to establish a communication link between theequipment support 320 and the bed 440. Also, the engagement between thecoupling pins 550 and the sockets 554 mechanically secures the equipmentsupport 320 to the bed 440.

To attach the equipment support 320 to the column 520, the column 520approaches the back wall 302 of the equipment support 320. Theupwardly-extending lip portion 586 of the mounting block 582 is insertedinto the mounting block-receiving cavity 570 and the lower portion of534 of the column 520 is then raised. The downwardly-extending couplingpins 572 of the equipment support 320 engage the associatedupwardly-opening sockets 578 of the column 520 before the power and dataconnectors 600, 602 of the equipment support 320 engage the respectivepower and data connectors 604, 606 of the column 520 to align the powerand data connectors 600, 602 of the equipment support 320 with therespective power and data connectors 604, 606 of the column 520. As theengagement between the coupling pins 572 and the associated sockets 578progresses, the power and data connectors 600, 602 couple to therespective power and data connectors 604, 606 to supply power to theequipment support 320 and to establish a communication link between theequipment support 320 and the column 520. Also, the engagement betweenthe coupling pins 572 and the sockets 578 mechanically secures theequipment support 320 to the column 520.

The power and data connectors 590, 592 and 600, 602 are arranged on theequipment support 320 so that the power and data connectors 594, 596 ofthe bed 440 and the power and data connectors 604, 606 of the column 520can be coupled substantially simultaneously to the respective power anddata connectors 590, 592 and 600, 602 of the equipment support 320before disconnection of either one of the power and data connectors 594,596 of the bed 440 and the power and data connectors 604, 606 of thecolumn 520 from the respective power and data connectors 590, 592 and600, 602 of the equipment support 320 to permit the equipment support320 to be transferred between the bed 440 and the column 520 without aloss of power to the equipment support 320 or without a loss ofcommunication link with the equipment support 320.

Likewise, the coupling pins 550, 572 are arranged on the equipmentsupport 320 so that the sockets 554 of the bed 440 and the sockets 578of the column 520 can be coupled substantially simultaneously to therespective coupling pins 550, 572 before disconnection of either one ofthe sockets 554 of the bed 440 and the sockets 578 of the column 520from the respective coupling pins 550, 572. This assures that theequipment support 320 is firmly secured to the bed 440 before it isreleased from the column 520, and firmly secured to the column 520before it is released from the bed 440.

Referring to FIG. 7, a power connector 660 and a data connector 662 arecoupled to an equipment-support-facing wall of each patient care module324. A complementary power connector 664 and a complementary dataconnector 666, also shown in FIG. 7, are coupled to apatient-care-module-facing wall of an associated equipment-receivingcavity 322 in the equipment support 320. The power and data connectors660, 662 of each patient care module 324 are configured to be coupled tothe respective power and data connectors 664, 666 in the associatedequipment-receiving cavity 322 in the equipment support 320 to supplypower to the module 324 and to establish a communication link betweenthe module 324 and the equipment support 320 when the module 324 isreceived in the associated equipment-receiving cavity 322 in theequipment support 320 as shown in FIGS. 8, and 13-19.

Thus, each of the mini modules 328, the IV pump modules 330, 332, thesuction module 334, the ventilator module 336, and the liquid oxygenmodule 338 have power and data connectors 660, 662 which are configuredto be coupled to associated power and data connectors 664, 666 of theequipment support 320. The power and data connectors 664, 666 of theequipment support 320 are accessible for connection to the power anddata connectors 660, 662 of the modules 324 through respective openings(not shown) in an interior wall of the equipment support 320.

In the illustrated embodiment, the data connector 596 of the bed 440,the data connector 606 of the column 520 and the two data connectors592, 602 of the equipment support 320 each comprise a wireless coupler.The wireless couplers 592, 596, 602, 606 each comprise one or more ofthe following: a photoemitter, a photodetector, a photodiode, a radiofrequency (RF) transmitter, an RF receiver, an RF transceiver, aninfrared (IR) transmitter, an IR receiver, and an IR transceiver.Alternatively, wired data couplers may be used in lieu of the wirelessdata couplers 592, 596, 602, 606. Data from the patient care module 324is wirelessly communicated to a computer network 690 of a healthcaresystem so that other computer devices connected to the computer network690 have access to the data from the patient care module 324 when thepatient care module 324 is received in the associatedequipment-receiving cavity 322 in the equipment support 320 and theequipment support 320 is coupled to the bed 440 or the support arm 442.

The wireless communication between the patient care module 324 and thecomputer network 690 may be in accordance with any desired protocol,including the following protocols: IrDA, spread spectrum (including theBluetooth protocol), RS232, TCP/IP, USB, and 802.11_(x). The wirelesscommunication may use frequency modulation or by frequency modulatedinfrared (FMIR). In some embodiments, data includes control signals forthe operation of the patient care modules 324, the display 326 and theon-board microcontroller 692.

In the illustrated embodiment, the four power and data connectors 590,592 and 600, 602 of the equipment support 320, the two power and dataconnectors 594, 596 of the bed 440 and the two power and data connectors604, 606 of the support arm 442 are separate devices. Each of theseseparate power and data connectors 590, 592; 594, 596; 600, 602 and 604,606 may be replaced with a combined power and data connector of the typeillustrated in a PCT Pat. App. Pub. No. WO2005/022692, entitled “Plugand Receptacle Having Wired and Wireless Coupling,” which is herebyincorporated by reference herein.

In some embodiments, the power and data connectors 660, 662 of thepatient care module 324 and the power and data connectors 664, 666 ofthe equipment support 320 are drawer connectors to facilitate blindmating when the module 324 is inserted into the associatedequipment-receiving cavity 322 of the equipment support 320. Such drawerconnectors may be of the type illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,456. Insome embodiments, the power and data connectors 664, 666 of theequipment support 320 are receptacle connectors and the power and dataconnectors 660, 662 of the patient care modules 324 are plug connectors.In some other embodiments, the power and data connectors 664, 666 of theequipment support 320 are plug connectors and the power and dataconnectors 660, 662 of the patient care modules 324 are receptacleconnectors.

As shown in FIG. 22, the touchscreen display 326 is operable in severalmodes, either at the same time or at different times, when the equipmentsupport 320 is coupled to the bed 440. In a first mode, the touchscreendisplay 326 is operable to display patient data. Illustratively, thepatient data includes blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate,respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation level, patient weight, and thelike. This list is intended to be exemplary, not exhaustive, and it iscontemplated by this disclosure that all types of patient data may bedisplayed on touchscreen display 326. In a second mode, the touchscreendisplay 326 is operable to display a first plurality of icons that aretouchable to move the movable portions of the bed 440, such as the head,thigh and foot sections of the deck 454 and the side rails 480, 482. Ina third mode, the touchscreen display 326 is operable to display asecond plurality of icons that are touchable to provide input to theon-board microcontroller 692. In a fourth mode, the touchscreen display326 is configured to display the operational status of the bed 440including one or more of the following: bed function lock-outs, bedarticulation, bed elevation, siderail positions, and therapy surfacedata. In a fifth mode, the touchscreen display 326 is configured todisplay the operational status of the patient care equipment 324including information concerning one or more of the following: an alarmstatus, and equipment settings.

The on-board battery module 340, shown, for example, in FIG. 6, suppliespower to the patient care modules 324, the display 326 and the on-boardmicrocontroller 692. Alternatively, the bed 440 and the support arm 442each has a power source, such as, for example, a battery 694 shown inFIG. 19 or a converter to convert a line voltage to a low DC voltage,for supplying power to the patient care modules 324, the display 326 andthe microcontroller 692 when the equipment support 320 is coupled to thebed 440 or the column 520. The equipment support 320 has conductors forelectrically coupling the patient care modules 324, the display 326 andthe microcontroller 692 to the power and data connectors 590, 592 and600, 602 of the equipment support 320. Conductors may also extendbetween the display 326, the on-board microcontroller 692 and the powerand data connectors 662 of the equipment support 320.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show a hospital bed 740 similar to the bed 440 shown inFIGS. 13-19, except that the bed 740 has a swivelableforwardly-extending support structure 800 for supporting the equipmentsupport 320 so that the equipment support 320 can be swiveled to eitherside of the bed 740 as needed. Where appropriate, like referencenumerals are used to denote portions of the bed 740 that aresubstantially similar to like portions of the bed 440. Thus, the bed 740includes a base frame 750, an upper frame 752 supported above the baseframe 750, and an articulating deck 754 supported above the upper frame752. Two side rails 780 are coupled to the head section of the deck 754.Two side rails 782 are coupled to the upper frame 752 or to the footsection of the deck 754. A pair of push bars 796 are coupled to theupper frame 752 near the head end 760. Each push bar 796 has a forwardlyand upwardly-extending portion 797 and an inwardly-extending portion 798that forms a handle post.

A relatively wide ledge 784 extends forwardly in a cantilevered mannerfrom the head end 760 of the base frame 750. In the illustrated example,the ledge 784 has an arcuate forwardly-facing wall which forms an arc ofa circle having a center located on a vertical axis 748. In theillustrated example, the width of the ledge 784 is less than the widthof the base frame 750. A relatively narrow support structure 800 extendsforwardly in a cantilevered manner from the head end 760 of therelatively wide ledge 784. In the illustrated example, the supportstructure 800 is coupled to the underside of the ledge 784 for pivotingmovement about the vertical axis 748. Both the ledge 784 and theswivelable support structure 800 are spaced from the floor 778 of thehospital room. At least a forward portion 802 of the swivelable supportstructure 800 extends outside the footprint of the upper frame 752. Asshown in FIGS. 23, 24, the equipment support 320 is detachably coupledto the forward portion 802 of the swivelable support structure 800 in amanner similar to the manner in which the equipment support 320 isdetachably coupled to the forward portion 502 of the relatively narrowledge 500 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 17 and 18.

In the illustrated example, the support structure 800 is telescopic sothat, when attached, the equipment support 320 can move between aretracted position closer to the bed 740 where the equipment support 320is located between the handle posts 798 as shown in solid in FIG. 23 andan extended position further spaced from the bed 740 where the equipmentsupport 320 is located forwardly of the handle posts 798 as shown inphantom in FIG. 23 so that the equipment support 320 can clear thehandle posts 798 when it is swiveled to a side of the bed 740. In suchembodiments, to move the equipment support 320 to a side of the bed 740,the equipment support 320 is first moved to the extended positionforwardly of the handle posts 798 and then moved to one of the two sidesof the bed 740 as desired. The telescopic support structure 800 includesa first segment 810 and a second segment 812 that telescopeshorizontally into and out of the first segment 810. In some alternateembodiments, the support structure 800 is not telescopic, but it isdimensioned such that the equipment support 320, when attached to thesupport structure 800, is positioned forwardly of the handle posts 798so that it can swivel from side to side without interference from thehandle posts 798.

In the illustrated example, the width of the equipment support 320 isless than the inner spacing between the handle posts 798. In someembodiments, the width of the equipment support 320 is equal to thewidth of the base frame 750. In the illustrated example, the width ofthe swivelable support structure 800 is less than the inner spacingbetween the downwardly-extending support legs 350 of the equipmentsupport 320. In some embodiments, the width of the support structure 800is equal to the width of the equipment support 320. When the equipmentsupport 320 is supported by the base frame 750 of the bed 740, an upperportion 804 of the equipment support 320 is situated above the upperframe 752 as shown in FIGS. 23, 24. Attachment of the equipment support320 to the base frame 750, instead of the upper frame 752, allows theequipment support 320 to be taller so that it can have multipleequipment-receiving cavities 322 for receiving multiple patient caremodules 324.

While the features or aspects of various inventions have beenillustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings anddescription, the same is to be considered as illustrative and notrestrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrativeembodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changesand modifications that come within the spirit of the respectiveinventions are desired to be protected.

1. A patient care equipment support for use with patient care equipmenthaving power and data connectors, the equipment support comprising powerand data connectors configured to be coupled to the respective power anddata connectors of the patient care equipment when the patient careequipment is coupled to the equipment support to provide a powercoupling and a data coupling between the patient care equipment and theequipment support.
 2. The equipment support of claim 1, wherein thepatient care equipment comprises any one or more of the following: aninfusion pump, a ventilator, a cardiac monitor, a pulse oximeter, anon-invasive blood pressure measuring device, a digital thermometer, aliquid oxygen module, a defibrillator, a respiratory rate measuringdevice, medical gas delivery equipment, intra-venous bags, and the like.3. The equipment support of claim 1, further comprising any one or moreof the following: a microcontroller, a user interface device, a display,an on-board battery, and the like.
 4. The equipment support of claim 1,comprising an on-board battery to supply power to the patient careequipment when the patient care equipment is coupled to the equipmentsupport.
 5. The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the equipmentsupport is configured to be detachably coupled to a first device, theequipment support comprising extendible support legs with floor-engagingwheels which allow the equipment support to be decoupled from the firstdevice and supported on an underlying floor for independent operationthereof.
 6. The equipment support of claim 5, wherein the support legsare configured to retract when the equipment support is lifted off thefloor and coupled to the first device.
 7. The equipment support of claim1, wherein the equipment support is transferable between a first deviceand a second device.
 8. The equipment support of claim 7, wherein thefirst device has first power and data connectors, the equipment supporthas third power and data connectors, the equipment support is configuredto be detachably coupled to the first device so that the third power anddata connectors couple to the respective first power and data connectorsto supply power to the equipment support and to establish acommunication link between the first device and the equipment support.9. The equipment support of claim 8, wherein the communication linkbetween the first device and the equipment support is wireless.
 10. Theequipment support of claim 8, wherein the second device has second powerand data connectors, the equipment support has fourth power and dataconnectors, the equipment support is configured to be detachably coupledto the second device so that the fourth power and data connectors coupleto the respective second power and data connectors to supply power tothe equipment support and to establish a communication link between thesecond device and the equipment support.
 11. The equipment support ofclaim 10, wherein the communication link between the second device andthe equipment support is wireless.
 12. The equipment support of claim10, wherein the third and the fourth power and data connectors arearranged so that the first and second power and data connectors can becoupled substantially simultaneously to the respective third and fourthpower and data connectors before disconnection of either one of thefirst and second power and data connectors from the respective third andfourth power and data connectors to permit the equipment support to betransferred between the first and second devices without a loss of powerto the equipment support or without a loss of communication link withthe equipment support.
 13. The equipment support of claim 7, wherein thefirst device is one of the following: a wall of a hospital room, apatient support, a hospital bed, a stretcher, a surgery table, and anambulatory care chair.
 14. The equipment support of claim 7, wherein thesecond device is one of the following: a support arm, a column, aheadwall, a cart, and a stand.
 15. The equipment support of claim 1,wherein the equipment support includes at least one equipment-receivingcavity and the power and data connectors of the patient care equipmentare coupled to the respective power and data connectors of the equipmentsupport when the patient care equipment is received in the at least oneequipment-receiving cavity.
 16. The equipment support of claim 15,wherein the at least one equipment-receiving cavity comprises aplurality of equipment-receiving cavities, and each equipment-receivingcavity is configured to receive an associated patient care equipment.17. The equipment support of claim 15, wherein the power and dataconnectors of the equipment support and the patient care equipment aredrawer connectors to facilitate blind mating when the patient careequipment is inserted into the associated equipment-receiving cavity ofthe equipment support.
 18. The equipment support of claim 17, whereinthe power and data connectors of the equipment support are receptacleconnectors and the power and data connectors of the patient careequipment are plug connectors.
 19. The equipment support of claim 1,wherein each power connector includes a wired coupler to supplyelectrical power to the patient care equipment, and each data connectorincludes a wireless coupler to establish a communication link betweenthe patient care equipment and the equipment support.
 20. The equipmentsupport of claim 19, wherein the wired coupler comprises electricalcontacts.
 21. The equipment support of claim 20, wherein the wirelesscoupler comprises one or more of the following: a photoemitter, aphotodetector, a photodiode, a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, an RFreceiver, an RF transceiver, an infrared (IR) transmitter, an IRreceiver, and an IR transceiver.
 22. The equipment support of claim 19,wherein data from the patient care equipment is wirelessly communicatedto a computer network (190, 690) of a healthcare system when the patientcare equipment is coupled to the equipment support so that othercomputer devices connected to the computer network have access to thedata from the patient care equipment.
 23. The equipment support of claim19, wherein wireless communication between the patient care equipmentand the equipment support is in accordance with one of the followingprotocols: IrDA, spread spectrum (including the Bluetooth protocol),RS232, TCP/IP, USB, and 802.11_(x).
 24. The equipment support of claim19, wherein wireless communication between the patient care equipmentand the equipment support uses frequency modulation.
 25. The equipmentsupport of claim 19, wherein wireless communication between the patientcare equipment and the equipment support uses frequency modulatedinfrared (FMIR).